Exposing Useless Local Council

Barking_Dogs

Long story short, I've just moved house and my recycling isn't being collected by the local council (Mendip District Council) & they're not dealing with it despite numerous calls and emails to their complaints dept.

Anyone know best way to escalate this? Is there a regulator I can complain to? Social media strategies, twitter hashtags etc.

I'm so angry at the moment I just want to expose their total uselessness and the rudeness of their staff.

RelievedSheff

They will have an official complaints department. Go through that.

davidmcn

There's an Ombudsman (if you've actually exhausted the council's own complaints procedure), or you can contact your councillor(s) but it's really nothing to do with House Buying, Renting or Selling so better moving this to another board I think?

theartfullodger

Approach the council (staff, councillors, chairs of relevant committtees...) in a calm, polite & friendly manner usually gets the better response.

https://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/6441/Committees-and-Meetings

And follow complaints process likewise, calm, polite & friendly. In writing/email/screen-shots, keep copies.
https://www.mendip.gov.uk/feedback

As it happens we were speaking with a local councillor (different council..) who is very keen on bin collections. She told us the bin lorries have CCTV, timed, dated, location checkable. When people complain about bin bad-collection (not emptied, ignored, items left..) the usual outcome is the council contact complainant, point out bin was somehow non-compliant (not put out, full of the wrong stuff, stuff left not in bins, in the wrong place etc etc etc..) and suddenly the complaint is withdrawn.

I'm sure this won't happen in this case.

Artful: Bin-man in the 1960s... (err.. refuse collection operative..). One grandson sings me "My old man's a dustman...".. Ah, bless...

Barking_Dogs

davidmcn wrote: »

There's an Ombudsman (if you've actually exhausted the council's own complaints procedure), or you can contact your councillor(s) but it's really nothing to do with House Buying, Renting or Selling so better moving this to another board I think?

Thanks - I always find it a nightmare finding the most appropriate forum on here!

Barking_Dogs

theartfullodger wrote: »

Approach the council (staff, councillors, chairs of relevant committtees...) in a calm, polite & friendly manner usually gets the better response.

https://www.mendip.gov.uk/article/6441/Committees-and-Meetings

And follow complaints process likewise, calm, polite & friendly. In writing/email/screen-shots, keep copies.
https://www.mendip.gov.uk/feedback

As it happens we were speaking with a local councillor (different council..) who is very keen on bin collections. She told us the bin lorries have CCTV, timed, dated, location checkable. When people complain about bin bad-collection (not emptied, ignored, items left..) the usual outcome is the council contact complainant, point out bin was somehow non-compliant (not put out, full of the wrong stuff, stuff left not in bins, in the wrong place etc etc etc..) and suddenly the complaint is withdrawn.

I'm sure this won't happen in this case.

Artful: Bin-man in the 1960s... (err.. refuse collection operative..). One grandson sings me "My old man's a dustman...".. Ah, bless...

Yes, that's true. I. MUST. REMAIN. CALM.

I am putting the right stuff in the appropriate bins because they come back and collect it a couple of days later after I have rung to complain. This has happened every week for the last 5 weeks and still they don't collect on the day they're supposed to despite others in the neighbourhood getting collected. It's all getting very tedious.

theartfullodger

No offence but you've just moved house: Have the council-tax payments started?

email following 'phone call helps evidence should this not get resolved shortly.

Cups of tea & biscuits for the lads is probably the quickest solution. Just making the offer might sort it.. smile, friendly, no moaning....


Being calm & polite is, for me, very often just an act and does not reflect what I feel. Took over 30 years to appreciate the effect it has on most people being calm & polite.

bouicca21

I found contacting my ward councillor was very effective. A senior official from the rubbish (literally not pejoratively) department actually came out personally to apologise!

kirtondm

I used to live in mendip are you sure you are putting it out on the right day. They have diffrent days for diffrent roads some sometimes the neighbours bins will go but not yours.

We never had a problem.

The think that most annoyed me about mendip was the entry charge to some of their tips.

AdrianC

To get to yours, is the bin wagon driving right past your collection point? Or would they need some kind of minor detour?
Are you sure you're putting the bins in the right place?

Was the property empty for a while before you moved in?

One thing's for sure - the issue almost certainly lies with the crew on the bin wagon, not somebody at the actual council. And I bet the collections are outsourced.

G_M

Is counciltax sorted?


If yes, phone your local councillor, or attend his/her surgery.